Browsing by Author "Polack, Sarah"

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    Exploring the Use of Washington Group Questions to Identify People with Clinical Impairments Who Need Services including Assistive Products: Results from Five Population-Based Surveys
    (2022) Boggs, Dorothy; Kuper, Hannah; Mactaggart, Islay; Bright, Tess; Murthy, Gvs; Hydara, Abba; McCormick, Ian; Tamblay, Natalia; Alvarez, Matias L.; Atijosan-Ayodele, Oluwarantimi; Yonso, Hisem; Foster, Allen; Polack, Sarah
    This study analyses the use of the self-reported Washington Group (WG) question sets as a first stage screening to identify people with clinical impairments, service and assistive product (AP) referral needs using different cut-off levels in four functional domains (vision, hearing, mobility and cognition). Secondary data analysis was undertaken using population-based survey data from five countries, including one national survey (The Gambia) and four regional/district surveys (Cameroon, Chile, India and Turkey). In total 19,951 participants were sampled (range 538-9188 in individual studies). The WG question sets on functioning were completed for all participants alongside clinical impairment assessments/questionnaires. Using the WG "some/worse difficulty" cut-off identified people with mild/worse impairments with variable sensitivity (44-79%) and specificity (73-92%) in three of the domains. At least 64% and 60% of people with mild/worse impairments who required referral for surgical/medical and rehabilitation/AP services, respectively, self-reported "some/worse difficulty", and much fewer reported "a lot/worse difficulty." For moderate/worse impairment, both screening cut-offs improved identification of service/AP need, but a smaller proportion of people with need were identified. In conclusion, WG questions could be used as a first-stage screening option to identify people with impairment and referral needs, but only with moderate sensitivity and specificity.
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    Prevalence of Cognitive Impairment and Its Association With Hearing Loss Among Adults Over 50 Years of Age: Results From a Population-Based Survey in Santiago, Chile
    (2023) Tamblay, Natalia; Boggs, Dorothy; Huidobro, Barbara; Tapia-Mora, Daniel; Anabalon, Katherine; Delgado, Carolina; Polack, Sarah; Bright, Tess; Torrente, Mariela C.
    Purpose: The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of cognitive impairment and explore its association with hearing loss and other socio-demographic and clinical risk factors, using an objective measurement of hear-ing levels, in adults over 50 years of age.Method: A population-based survey was completed in Santiago, Chile between December 2019 and March 2020. Participants were screened for cognitive impairment using the Short Chilean Mini-Mental State Examination and hearing levels were assessed with tonal audiometry (hearTest). Data on demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical characteristics were collected.Results: A total of 538 persons completed the assessment. The prevalence of cognitive impairment in the 50+ population was 9.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] [5.8, 14.7]). Cognitive impairment was significantly higher in individuals with any level of hearing loss (odds ratio [OR] = 2.19, 95% CI [1.00, 4.80], adjusted for age, sex, education, socioeconomic position [SEP], and head trauma). Sub-jects with hearing loss and who reported any use of hearing aids (16% of the sample) had a lower risk of cognitive impairment (OR of nonusers 3.64, 95% CI [1.00, 13.28], adjusted for age, sex, education, SEP, and head trauma).Conclusion: Strategies for addressing cognitive impairment should further explore the integration of early diagnosis of hearing loss and the regular use of hearing aids.
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    Prevalence, risk factors and causes of hearing loss among adults 50 years and older in Santiago, Chile: results from a rapid assessment of hearing loss survey
    (2023) Tamblay, Natalia; Torrente, Mariela C.; Huidobro, Barbara; Tapia-Mora, Daniel; Anabalon, Katherine; Polack, Sarah; Bright, Tess
    Objective Among a representative sample of adults aged 50 years and older too (i) determine the prevalence of hearing loss, (ii) evaluate probable causes and risk factors of hearing loss, and (iii) assess the association between hearing loss measured by audiometry and self-report. Design A population-based survey of adults aged 50 and older in Santiago, Chile using the Rapid Assessment of Hearing Loss (RAHL) survey. Study sample 538 participants completed a questionnaire, which included questions on socio-demographic and health characteristics and self-reported hearing loss. Hearing and possible cause of hearing loss was assessed using pure tone audiometry (0.5-4.0 kHz), tympanometry, and otoscopy. Results The prevalence of any level of hearing loss in adults aged 50 years and older was 41% (95% CI 33.2, 49.2). In terms of aetiologies, 89.3% of ears with mild or worse hearing loss were classified as sensorineural. Otoscopy was abnormal in 10.7% of subjects with impacted earwax being the most common finding (4.4%) followed by chronic otitis media (3.5%). Hearing aid usage was 16.6%. Older age, lower socioeconomic position, lack of education, and solvent exposure were significantly associated with hearing loss. Conclusion Hearing loss among individuals aged over 50 years was common in Santiago, Chile.